Collaborating to support stroke victims in Sri Lanka

PICTURED: Members of the Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington packing medical equipment at the Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (RARE) facility, ready to be shipped to stroke units in Sri Lanka.

The Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington, Vic, has partnered with the Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Australian Sri Lankan Association South Australia, Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment and Rotary Donations in Kind to outfit stroke units in nine hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has a very high incidence of stroke yet just 74 dedicated stroke beds across nine hospitals in the whole country. Access to a stroke unit is possible for about 14 per cent of sufferers – in high income countries it is 91 per cent.

To address these alarming statistics, a project was developed following a meeting between the Minister for Health, Past District Governor Senake Ameresinghe and Past District Governor Pubudu De Goysa from the Rotary Club of Colombo, President of the National Stroke Association Dr Harsha Gunasekara, and Peter Cribb of the Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington.

A detailed and extensive ‘wish list’ was compiled by Dr Gunasekara and his team and conveyed to Rotary Donations in Kind. As hospital beds were still in short supply following the COVID pandemic, Peter reached out to Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (RARE) for support.

With assistance from former MLA Craig Ondarchie, a connection was made with the Australian Sri Lankan Association (ASLA) in Adelaide, and through their President Nishani Seneviratne, funds were collected to pay for the shipping of a container from RARE in Adelaide. ASLA members worked with the RARE team, led by Manager Dave Cockshell, to identify equipment and load the container. They were assisted by Dr Charitha Perera and Dr Mihiri Pere from the Sri Lanka Consulate of Adelaide.

Meanwhile, a second container funded by the Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington was organised through Rotary Donations in Kind, West Footscray. This container was loaded by Flemington Kensington Rotarians and the DiK crew and shipped two months later.

The equipment included 86 hospital beds and mattresses, blankets and bed linen, patient monitors and blood pressure machines, transfer trolleys, examination tables, 47 wheelchairs, 24 walkers, 23 walking sticks, 16 toilet over frame seats, six medication trolleys, 15 cupboards, five tables, 24 patient chairs and 11 cartons of medical supplies.

In Sri Lanka, Dr Gunasekara worked with his team to identify the needs of each hospital, and allocated resources by priority. The Rotary Club of Colombo facilitated the unloading and storage of equipment on arrival and arranged for signage to acknowledge the contributing and supporting organisations.

The first allocations went to the Teaching Hospital in Nagoda, Southern Province, which received 20 hospital beds, 10 wheelchairs, five commode chairs, two syringe pumps, two transfer trolleys, five cupboards and three tables. Hospital staff were delighted with the items, which have already made a huge difference to patient care.

Despite several setbacks, roadblocks, challenges and difficulties, perseverance and exploring different possibilities resulted in a successful outcome that highlights the strength in Rotary connections; the tentacles of reach that come together to have great impact and engagement with the broader community.